Every year after the big Tucson show, people ask : “what was your favorite tektite find ?” (We also look forward to this answer; we go to Tucson wondering what new treasure we will find!) Here it is. Tucson Tektite 2013. We spent days sorting through every box and bin of tektites we could find, piece by piece by piece. Tektites have virtually infinite variety. There is always opportunity for something completely new and amazing. The trick is in maintaining both an open mind and total concentration as thousands of tektites cascade past your (sometimes bleeding) fingertips. If you fixate on one target, you can easily miss the unanticipated oddity, and the truly unique can’t be anticipated. Tucson Tektite 2013 is the first example of its kind that we have ever seen (although the collapsed bubble in my column from April, 2012, is a close cousin). TT2013 is a stretched ribbon of tektite glass that folded over and rewelded. Imagine stretching a blob of silly putty until it ultimately snaps, collapses, and elastically retracts, flapping and welding into a perfect 180 degree fold! I am still thrilled to hold this fantastic piece! It is in our private collection for now. It’s still way too soon to let go— 10.5 grams, Lei gong mo. Enjoy!
